THE CORRESPONDENCE OF HENRYK B. STENZEL: A 20TH CENTURY HISTORY OF GULF COAST CENOZOIC GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY

The career of Henryk B. Stenzel (1899-1980) spanned an important period in the development of our knowledge of Gulf Coast Cenozoic geology and paleontology. H.B. Stenzel held positions at Texas A&M, the Bureau of Economic Geology and the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, Shell Development Co., Rice University, and Louisiana State University. Archives of nearly 8,000 of Stenzel’s letters and notebooks maintained by Louisiana State University have been scanned, indexed, and are available for research purposes through the University of Texas at Austin. The letters, spanning the period from 1922 to near the time of his death, are a fascinating glimpse into the character of one of the important figures in Gulf Coast geology and paleontology. We present a selection of some of the letters that highlight the depth of Stenzel’s knowledge, feistiness, resoluteness (some said stubbornness), and compassion. Through these letters we who did not know him can appreciate the love and respect this man won from the many people with whom he corresponded.